Who Are Paharis And Paddaris Of J&K, The Communities Getting ST Status?

The government has introduced a Bill in Jammu and Kashmir to include four communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). These communities are "Gadda Brahmin", "Koli", "Paddari Tribe", and "Pahari Ethnic Group".

The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is one of the four Bills related to the Union Territory that were presented in Lok Sabha on 26 July.

Composition of tribes

The Gujjars and Bakerwals are the dominant ST communities in J&K. They primarily reside in the districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Bandipora, Ganderbal, and Kupwara.

The Bakerwals, in particular, lead a nomadic lifestyle, migrating with their livestock to higher areas during the summer and returning before winter.

The Gujjar-Bakerwal community, with a population of nearly 18 lakh, is the third largest group in J&K after Kashmiris and Dogras. They were granted ST status in 1991, along with the smaller groups of Gaddis and Sippis.

This designation entitled these four communities to a 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutions. In 2019, they were also given political empowerment when the Centre announced a 10% quota for them in Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in J&K.

The proposed expansion of the ST list has caused unrest among the Gujjar-Bakerwal community, as they fear a decrease in their share of quota benefits.

The amendment mentioned in the Bill may lead to additional expenses for providing benefits to individuals belonging to the four communities, as per an article in The Indian Express.

The Gujjar-Bakerwal leaders are particularly upset about the proposed ST status for Paharis and Paddaris. They argue that Gadda Brahmins and Kolis are already small communities, and according to the protesters, Gadda Brahmins are a subgroup of the Gaddis, while Kolis are a sub-caste of Sippis - both of which are already included in the ST list.

The Paharis

The Paharis consist of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, including people of Kashmiri origin who settled in Rajouri and Poonch districts over time. Among the Paharis, there are upper-caste Hindus and individuals who were displaced from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

In 1989, the J&K government, led by Farooq Abdullah, recommended the inclusion of Paharis in the ST list alongside Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis, and Sippis. However, the recommendation was rejected by the Registrar General of India due to the absence of a caste or tribe with that name in their records.

The Board's definition of Paharis included all residents of Rajouri and Poonch except for those who were STs.

Despite continuous requests from the Paharis for ST status, the Centre repeatedly sought clarifications from the J&K government. In 2012-13, a study conducted by Prof Amin Peerzada of Kashmir University, commissioned by the J&K government, supported the Paharis' demand.

The PDP-BJP government, led by Mehbooba Mufti, sent the study's report along with a recommendation to the Centre. However, the request was rejected once again on the basis that Paharis were not considered an ethnic group.

During the term of the Omar Abdullah government in 2014, a Bill proposing a 5% quota for Paharis was introduced. However, Governor N N Vohra refused to give his assent to the Bill.

In 2019, under the governance of Satya Pal Malik as the Governor, the Paharis were finally granted a 4 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions. Furthermore, in the same year, the Justice (retd) G D Sharma Commission was appointed to identify socially, educationally, and economically backward groups.

The Commission's report recommended ST status for the Gadda Brahmins, Kolis, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group. The report was subsequently sent to the Tribal Affairs Ministry, and in 2022, it was approved by the Registrar General.

The Paddaris

The Paddari Tribe resides in the remote Paddar area of the hilly Kishtwar district. Their homeland is situated between Zanskar (Ladakh) to the north and east, Pangi in Himachal Pradesh to the south, and the rest of J&K to the west.

According to the 2011 census, the Paddari population was recorded at 21,548. Among them, 83.6 per cent are Hindus, 9.5 per cent are Buddhists, and 6.8 per cent are Muslims.

The people of the area, including those who have migrated from other places to settle there, speak the Paddari language.

Similar to the Paharis, the Gujjar-Bakerwal community opposes the proposed inclusion of the Paddari Tribe in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. Their argument is based on the belief that the Paddari Tribe is not a single ethnic group but rather a mixture of individuals from different castes and religions who speak a specific language.